Museum Exhibit Celebrates Archaeology Month in Texas
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Fourth grade student Elissa Kneopper
from Brazoria gives a presentation to other students
about Karankawa Indian Pottery during last June's Texas
Archeological Society dig near Paris, Texas.
--Photo by Dave
Wight |
October is archaeology month in Texas and the Sam Houston
Memorial Museum is joining in the celebration.
A photographic exhibit by Marissa and Dave Wight will be displayed
in the gallery of the Walker Education Building on the Sam
Houston Museum grounds from Oct. 3-30. There is no admission
fee.
Dave Wight, curator of exhibits at the museum, and his wife,
Marissa, joined the annual dig sponsored by the Texas Archeological
Society in Paris, Texas. The photographs from the dig this
past June chronicle the activities of an archaeological dig
from the first spade of dirt until the final day of sorting
and packing artifacts.
"Archaeological sites in Texas are fast disappearing,"
said Wight. "Over 90 percent of the sites in the state
have been destroyed by pothunters."
In addition to the photographic exhibit is a display of the
many important archaeological sites around the state.
The Texas Historical Commission and the Texas Archeological
Society promote various activities during the month of October
to educate the public about archeology. A calendar of events
including fairs, mock digs, speakers and school presentations
will be available at the museum exhibit.
On Oct. 21 the museum will host the 4th grade classes of Gibbs
Elementary in an archaeology fair. Students will participate
in hot rock cooking, spear throwing, pottery forming, artifact
identification and flint knapping. Seven of the presenters
are members of the Texas Archeological Society, including
Sandy Rogers, collections registrar at the museum.
The Texas Archeological Society has over 1,500 members worldwide.
The society encourages scientific archaeological excavation
and research. Each June the society sponsors a week long field
school somewhere in Texas to provide training in disciplined
archaeological techniques. People of all walks of life meet
to excavate, survey, catalog and teach.
Last June 350 members were at the Gene Stallings Ranch near
Paris to excavate a Fourche Maline site. It is thought that
the Fourche Maline were ancestors of the Caddo. Information
about the Fourche Maline is included in the museum's exhibit.
The Texas Historical Commission publishes various informational
pamphlets in an effort to dispel the many misconceptions held
by the public about archaeological sites. For example, many
people believe that if a site is found on private land the
state may take the land.
"Not true," said Wight. "Private property is
private. The THC would like the landowner to make an effort
to preserve the site and offers incentives but has no authority
to take away property. It is hoped that by educating the public
that sites can be preserved rather than pilfered."
There are 100 archaeological stewards of the Texas Historical
Commission who are authorized to help landowners survey sites
and access private collections. Two of those stewards are
area residents--Don Keyes in Montgomery County and Sandy Rogers
in Walker County. They are ready to assist anyone with questions
about sites and artifacts.
Rogers can be reached at the Sam Houston Museum at 936.294.4712.
More information on the museum's archaeological exhibits is
at http://samhouston.memorial.museum/News/archaeology.shtml.
The Texas Archeological Society Web site is http://www.txarch.org.
—END—
SHSU Media Contact: Frank
Krystyniak
Sept. 29, 2005
Please send comments, corrections, news tips to Today@Sam.edu.
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